Summation-meter.



No. 655,455. Patented Au Q2i, I900.

' J, HARRIS.

SUMMATION METER.

(Application flleq July 17, 1899.)

(No Model.) Shasta-Sheet I.

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Witnesses. lnvenoqrz "QM $5M, Jesse Harris,

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\ J. HARRIS.

SUMMATIUN METER.

(Apphcahon filed July 17 1899 (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

JEssE HARRIS, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, on NEW YORK.

SUMMATION-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,455, dated August 21, 1900.

Application filed J'ul'y 17, 1899. Serial No. 724,041. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JESSE HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invent- 5 ed certain new and useful Improvements in Summation-Meters,(ase No.1,025,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to summation electrio meters, the object being to permit a nu m- IO ber of meters at acentral or distributing station connected with independent feeders or circuits to operate a common register to indicate the aggregate amount of current supplied to all of the circuits.

: In carrying out my invention I provide in the common registering device or summation meter, as it'is known in the art, .a plurality of actuating devices, as many as there are independent meters whose aggregate regzo istration is to be indicated, the several actuators acting upon an indicator common to all of them. It is evident that with such an organization some arrangement must be pro;

quence, so that each will effect an independent operation of the register. In the particle lar embodiment of my invention described herein and illustrated in the drawings this 3 5 organization comprises a common controllingcircuit in which is interposed a series of locking-magnets which arrest the operation of the actuating device of any meter when another meterin advance of it in the controllingcircuit is operated. My invention is not, however, restricted to any particular organization for accomplishing this result, as it includes,broadly,any arrangement of actuating devices by which all are free to act when operating alone,but are forced to act in sequence when several operate simultaneously.

The several features of novelty will be hereinafter particularlydescribed, and will be definitely indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram of the controlling circuits of an electrically-operated summation meter embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the registering apparatus of the summation-meter, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal 5 5 section on a plane below the register.

Referring first to the diagram, 1 2 3 4 represent a series of independent electriemeters connected in different circuits. The invention is particularly useful in central stations where the several meters connect with independent feeders and where it is desirable to have a common register add up the amount of current used in all of the consumption-circuits. On one of the shafts of the registerwheel train in each meter is mounted a circuit-closer 5 5, the, which periodically closes the circuit between two contact-points, as shown in the drawings, when an individual meter has registered a given amount of cur- 7o rent consumption. These contact-springs are in circuit with a local source of energy-as, for example, a battery 6-and with independent actuating-magnets 7 7 7 7 of the summation-meter. These magnets operate independent a'rmatures, to which are connected pawls engaging a series of ratchet-wheels 8 8 S 8, mounted upon and secured to a common operating-shaft of the registering-wheel train. The arrangement of these ratchetwheels will be clearly understood from an inspection of Fig. 2, where they are fixed at intervals upon a common post 9, turning freely in vertical bearings and provided with a worm engaging one of the wheels of the register-dial 10. Each actuating-armature is spring-controlled and provided with an adjusting-screw, by which the tension of the spring may he graduated.

The several actuating-armatures are connected in branches of a controlling-circuit fed by the generator 6, normally open at the contact-stops 11 11 11", the final actuatingmagnet not being provided with such a connection. A locking-magnet 12 12 12 is pro 5 vided for each of the actuating-armatures except one, which might be termed the masteractuator of the series. The armatures of the locking-magnets play across the actuating-armatures and serve to prevent their movement so long as the magnets 12 12 12 are energized. Between the actuating-arma closes the locking-circuit atits back stop from one pole of the controlling-battery 6 through tures and the back stops 11 11 11 &c., is a flexible leaf-spring contact or follow-contact, by which some little range of movement of the armature is permitted after the spring engages the contact. It will thus be evident that when any armature is actuated it all the locking-magnets of the other registeroperating devices in series to the other pole of the battery, thus locking them against operation until its armature has effected its work upon the summation-dial, at which time the follow-contact between its spring and back stop will have opened the locking-circuit, thereby permitting the release of the locking device in the other meters and etfectingtheir operation in sequence, provided their armatures have been putin position to effect registration.

Let us suppose, for the sake of illustration, that all of the meters have operated simultaneously, so as to bring the circuit-closers 5 5*, 850., into engagement with their several sets of contact-springs. This of course is a remote contingency, which would rarely occur in practice; but in order to provide an accurate summation-meter the apparatus must provide against such an emergency. Each of the actuating-armatures will be drawn forward by the multiple-arc branches from the battery 6 through the several circuit-closers and operating-magnets 7 7 7 7. 1 The locking-circuit will also be closed by way of con ductors l3 and 14:, contact 11, the followthence through all the locking-magnets in series to the other pole of the battery 6. Branch circuits in multiple with the one just traced will be provided by the several meters by way ofthe actuatingarmatures and back stops. When the individual meters 1 2 3 4 have opened the controlling-circuit at their circuitclosers, the actuating-armatures will be in position to effect registration; but all save themaster-armature 15 will be locked against action. When, however, the latter has been retracted by its operating-spring, so as to effect registration, the contact at 11 will have been opened, thereby denergizing the locking-magnet 12 of the next actuating device in advance and permitting its armature to retract and remove the look from the actuatingarmature 15. This in turn will effect the registration through the instrumentality of its operating-pawl and ratchet-wheel, after which the circuit will be opened at the contact 11 thereby cutting out the locking-magnet 12 of the next actuating device in the series and permitting it to operate the register. Similarly any number of actuating devices may be accommodated. I

I preferably interpose between the back stops 11 11 11 of the actuating devices intermediate the terminal devices resistances to compensate for the resistance of the several locking-magnets out out, so as to provide uniform strength of current in the locking-circuit. The final actuating device of the train need not of course be provided with a back stop, since there is no further locking-magnet beyond it to control.

The particular type of locking device is a mere matter of selection. The type shown in the drawings may be employed with advantage. It consists simply of a pivoted bar constituting the armature of the lockingmagnet or having such an armature affixed to it, as indicated at 16, controlled by an adjustable retractile spring 17 and normally obstructed against movement by a stop 18, mounted on the armature 15 of the actuatingmagnet. The latter carries a rod or bar, on which is a spring-controlled pawl 19, a check= pawl 20 being coordinate with it in operative relation to the ratchet-wheel 8 The armature carries a contact adapted to engage a spring-actuated back stop 11, and a post 21, mounted on the frame, acts as a front stop. Thus in the normal condition of the apparatus the locking-armature is obstructed in its movement; but when the actuating-magnet is energized its armature is withdrawn from the path of movement of thelock-bar,-and the latter may be drawn across its path of movement,thereby preventing its release and holding it locked until the locking-magnet shall have been denergized. If but asingle.

meter has closed the controlling-circuit, none of the actuating devices will be looked, as all will bein a position where the lock-bar will be obstructed in its movement. If, however, two operate at the same time, the forward po-- sition of the armature of one of them will be in a position to permit the lock-bar to be drawn forward by the locking-magnet, arrest ing the operation of the register, so far as that particular actuating device is concerned,until the other meter has operated the register.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-- ,1. A summation-meter comprising a plurality of actuating devices fora register common to all, a lock for the actuating devices set when two or more meters act simultaneously, and interconnections permitting the lock to be removed from the several actuating devices in sequence.

netic lock for arresting all but one actuating device when two or more are impelled concurrently, the several magnetic locks being in series relation to a common source of:

IIO

energy, and branch connections between the controlling -magnets of the lock and said source, including a circuit-closer governed by the movement of the summation-register.

4:. A summation-meter comprising a register, operating devices therefor controlled by a plurality of meters, a locking-circuit for said operating devices including parallel branches governed by the respective meters, and locking-magnets in said circuit between the several branches.

5. A summation-meter, comprising a register, actuating devices therefor controlled independently by a plurality of meters, a locking-circuit including magnetically-controlled locking devices arresting the movement of all but one actuating device when two or more are impelled concurrently, and parallel branches between the several locking-magnets, includ- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of July, 1899.

JESSE HARRIS. Witnesses:

DUGALD MCKILLOP, JOHN McMANUs. 

